Conversion cradle incandescent lamp to LED lamp
A LED lamp mounting assembly for use in motor vehicle lamps is described. The LED lamp mounting assembly connects a LED lamp to a pre-existing incandescent lamp socket in a motor vehicle. The LED lamp mounting assembly therefore allows a LED lamp to be operated from incandescent lamp hardware. In one embodiment, the LED lamp mounting assembled includes a LED lamp assembly, a heat sink, a cradle, printed circuit boards and an electrical connector. The electrical connector is insertable into the incandescent lamp socket and connects to the printed circuit boards. The printed circuit boards power the LED lamp assembly and the heat sink adsorbs excess heat created by the LED lamp assembly. The motor vehicle lamp becomes a LED lamp without any changes to the existing incandescent lamp hardware.
The present device relates to lighting for automobiles, more particularly, but not exclusively, to a light emitting diode (LED) mounting assembly allowing a LED light to be powered from an incandescent lamp socket.
BACKGROUNDCurrently, light emitting diodes (LEDs) are being used more and more commonly as a light source. LEDs are preferred because they provide light that is similar to incandescent bulbs, but have many features that are superior. For example, LEDs are not subject to one failure because of one burnout. Unlike incandescent lights, there is not a fixed instant where LEDs stop functioning. They just slowly lose power over time. LED lights last much longer than incandescent lights with only a relatively small percentage of degradation in their performance over time. In addition, unlike incandescent lights, LEDs are not subject to failure from vibration. LEDs are also better sealed from corrosion. Moreover, LEDs have a much quicker rise time than incandescent lights. Therefore, LED lights are becoming the choice lighting mechanism.
This is especially true in the motor vehicle industry. The failure of a light in the motor vehicle industry can be catastrophic. Faulty brake lights, head lights or taillights can lead to an accident that could cause serious bodily injury or death. In addition, the quick rise time of LEDs provides other drivers more time to stop because they are alerted quicker based on the quick rise time. For these reasons, among others, LEDs are frequently being used more and more for motor vehicle applications.
Many motor vehicles have fixtures for only incandescent type light bulbs. Because of the relative newness of the LED technology, most existing and currently manufactured motor vehicles only have vehicle incandescent lamp mounting assemblies. Switching from incandescent light bulbs to an LED light source for a motor vehicle can be costly and difficult, as the hard-wire socket must be replaced.
Therefore, needs remain in this area of technology.
SUMMARYOne aspect of the invention is a LED lamp mounting assembly. The assembly comprises a cradle constructed and arranged to be mountable in a vehicle incandescent lamp mounting assembly, the vehicle incandescent lamp mounting assembly including an incandescent light bulb socket; a LED lamp including a connector; and an electrical connector including a base, wherein the electrical connector is operatively coupled to the connector of the LED lamp, wherein the base is constructed and arranged to be insertable in the incandescent light bulb socket.
Another aspect of the invention is device for replacing an incandescent lamp with an LED lamp in a motor vehicle. The device comprises an incandescent lamp socket, an electrical connector including a base, wherein the base is constructed and arranged to be insertable into the incandescent light bulb socket, a cradle including an outer rim and a basin, the basin defining a recess and including a circuit board chamber, wherein the outer rim is mountable upon the motor vehicle, a heat sink defining a recess, wherein the recess of the basin receives the heat sink, a license lamp printed circuit board, wherein the license lamp printed circuit board is positioned between the heat sink and the cradle, a drive printed circuit board, wherein the drive printed circuit board is received inside the circuit board chamber of the basin, and a LED lamp operatively coupled to the electrical connector, wherein the LED lamp is received inside the recess of the heat sink.
Another aspect of the invention is a method for installing LED lights. The method comprises the steps of providing a vehicle lamp mounting assembly including a protective lens and an incandescent bulb, wherein the incandescent bulb is mounted in a socket; removing the lens and incandescent bulb from the mounting assembly; replacing the incandescent bulb with a LED lamp mounting assembly constructed and arranged to be insertable in the socket; and replacing the lens after installing the LED lamp mounting assembly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations, modifications, and further applications of the principles of the present invention as illustrated being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
Generally, an assembly to transform an incandescent light source to a LED light source is described. The assembly enables a purchaser to remove the existing incandescent light bulb and replace it quickly and easily with the assembly. The benefits of using a LED light source is therefore obtained without costly and timely alterations to the existing lamp.
Referring now to the drawings,
The LED assembly 22 produces the light for the motor vehicle lamp. In one embodiment, the LED assembly 22 is a LUXEON™ STAR/C LED. The LUXEON™ STAR/C LED is produced by Lumileds Lighting, LLC of San Jose, Calif. Other embodiments use alternate types of LEDs suitable to illuminate a motor vehicle lamp readily apparent to those skilled in the art. The LED assembly 22 includes an LED printed circuit board (PCB) 36 for mounting an LED lamp 38 and to assist in affixing the LED assembly to the heat sink 26. LED PCB 36 includes a connector 40 that connects the input power to the LED lamp 38 via traces on the PCB 36, as is known in the art. The LED PCB 36 defines a first aperture 42 and a second aperture 44 sized to receive the fasteners 24. The connector 40 includes a positive pin 46 and a negative pin 48 to allow the power source having a negative and a positive terminal to be affixed to the connector 40. In one embodiment, the connection provides a single circuit system. In an alternate embodiment, the connection provides a double circuit system. The different components of the LED assembly 22 work together in order to take in power from the electrical connector 34 and transform it into visible light so that the motor vehicle lamp can function.
The LED assembly 22 is affixed to the heat sink 26. The heat sink 26 adsorbs heat produced by the LED lamp 38. One embodiment contemplates a heat sink composed of aluminum. Other embodiments contemplate a heat sink that is composed of titanium. In another embodiment, the heat sink is composed of a composite material. Other embodiments contemplate other materials which are thermally conductive, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.
The license lamp PCB 28 illuminates the license plate of the motor vehicle. The license lamp PCB 28 includes a front surface 64 that is flat and is easily sandwiched by the flange 56 of the heat sink 26 against the cradle 30. Referring now to
The cradle 30 supports all of the different components of the LED lamp mounting assembly 20. The cradle 30 also fixes the entire LED lamp mounting assembly 20 to a motor vehicle.
The outer rim 78 that is used to affix the LED lamp mounting assembly 20 to the motor vehicle includes an inside surface 88. The outer rim 78 actually fits between an existing lamp reflector base and the associated lens as a retrofit application. It does not mount to the motor vehicle per se.
The outer rim 78 includes an outer surface 90 that defines the outer limits of the outer rim 78.
Referring now to
Referring to
Continuing to view the basin 86 from the rear view of
The LED lamp mounting assembly 20 also includes a drive PCB 32. The drive PCB 32 is operatively coupled to the electrical connector 34 and transfers power from the automobile to the LED lamp assembly 22 and the license lamp PCB 28. The drive PCB 32 includes a front surface 192 as shown in
The LED lamp mounting assembly 20 also includes an electrical connector 34.
The heat sink 26 snugly fits into the basin 86 of the cradle 30 completely filling the basin 86. The flange 56 of the heat sink 26 is shaped to fit over the foot 84 of the cradle 30. The flange 56 also encapsulates the license lamp PCB 28 and protects the license lamp PCB 28 from external disrupting conditions. By covering the license lamp PCB 28 with the flange 56, light from the license lamp PCB 28 is prevented from shining in the wrong direction away from the license plate. The flange 56 fits behind the tab 140 of the cradle 30. The tab 140 provides an additional retaining wall to help keep the flange 56 in place. In addition, the tab 140 provides a guide to indicate that the flange 56 is properly located. The LED assembly 22 rests in the recess 60 of the heat sink 26. The recess 60 of the heat sink 26 lies in the recess 162 of the basin 86. This configuration places the LED lamp 38 at the maximum distance away from the outer rim 78 of the cradle 30. Placing the LED lamp 38 at such a distance protects the LED lamp 38 from damage caused by a motor vehicle collision or other external factors. Moreover, this location positions the LED lamp 38 in the same location as the removed incandescent light bulb. Thus, the same lens optics may be used and the user does not have to purchase an entirely new lens set. The LED lamp 38 faces outwardly from the front view so that the light produced from the lamp will illuminate the motor vehicle lamp lens (not shown). The wires 197 from the drive PCB (not shown) connect to the positive pin 46 and the negative pin 48 of the connector 40 to provide power to illuminate the LED assembly 22.
Once the LED lamp mounting assembly 20 is assembled, it is mounted to a motor vehicle having a vehicle incandescent lamp mounting assembly. For example, the brake light of a truck is replaced in one embodiment. Other embodiments include, but are not limited to, stop lamps, tail lamps, turn signal lamps, back-up lamps, license lamps, side marker lamps, clearance lamps, identification lamps, dome lamps, courtesy lamps, and combination clearance and side marker lamps to name a few.
The transformation from an incandescent light system to a LED light system is illustrated in
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.
Claims
1. A LED lamp mounting assembly comprising:
- a cradle constructed and arranged to be mountable in a vehicle incandescent lamp mounting assembly, said vehicle incandescent lamp mounting assembly including an incandescent light bulb socket;
- a LED lamp including a connector; and
- an electrical connector including a base, wherein said electrical connector is operatively coupled to said connector of said LED lamp, wherein said base is constructed and arranged to be insertable in said incandescent light bulb socket.
2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said LED lamp is operatively connected to said electrical connector using wires that attach to pins of the connector.
3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein said connection provides a single circuit system.
4. The assembly of claim 2, wherein said connection provides a double circuit system.
5. The assembly of claim 1, further including fasteners to couple the cradle and the LED lamp.
6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said base is constructed and arranged to be insertable in a wedge based bulb socket.
7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said base is constructed and arranged to be insertable in a bayonet base bulb socket.
8. The assembly of claim 2, said electrical connector further including a ground wire operatively coupled to said socket.
9. The assembly of claim 2, wherein said wires are coated with epoxy.
10. A device for replacing an incandescent lamp with an LED lamp in a motor vehicle comprising:
- an incandescent lamp socket;
- an electrical connector including a base, wherein said base is constructed and arranged to be insertable into said incandescent light bulb socket;
- a cradle including an outer rim and a basin, said basin defining a recess and including a circuit board chamber, wherein said outer rim is mountable upon said motor vehicle;
- a heat sink defining a recess, wherein said recess of said basin receives said heat sink;
- a license lamp printed circuit board, wherein said license lamp printed circuit board is positioned between said heat sink and said cradle;
- a drive printed circuit board, wherein said drive printed circuit board is received inside said circuit board chamber of said basin; and
- a LED lamp operatively coupled to said electrical connector, wherein said LED lamp is received inside the recess of said heat sink.
11. The device of claim 10, wherein said heat sink is composed of aluminum.
12. The device of claim 10, wherein said cradle is composed of plastic.
13. The device of claim 10, wherein said drive circuit board is coupled to said basin using epoxy.
14. The device of claim 10, wherein said base is constructed and arranged to be received by a bayonet based bulb socket.
15. The device of claim 10, wherein said base is constructed and arranged to be received by a wedge based bulb socket.
16. The device of claim 10, said heat sink including a flange, wherein said license lamp PCB is sandwiched in between said flange and said cradle.
17. The device of claim 10, wherein said LED lamp, said cradle, and said heat sink are coupled using fasteners.
18. A method for installing LED lights comprising the steps of:
- providing a vehicle lamp mounting assembly including a protective lens and an incandescent bulb, wherein said incandescent bulb is mounted in a socket;
- removing said lens and incandescent bulb from said mounting assembly;
- replacing said incandescent bulb with a LED lamp mounting assembly constructed and arranged to be insertable in said socket; and
- replacing said lens after installing said LED lamp mounting assembly.
19. The method of claim 18, wherein said socket is a wedge based bulb socket.
20. The method of claim 18, wherein said socket is a bayonet based bulb socket.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 18, 2004
Publication Date: Feb 23, 2006
Patent Grant number: 7153008
Inventors: William Grote (Madison, IN), Kevin Williams (Hanover, IN), Jay Koehler (Madison, IN)
Application Number: 10/920,796
International Classification: B60Q 1/00 (20060101);